Monitoring activity of a user in locomotion on foot

• US 20070061105A1
• Filed: 10/27/2006
• Published: 03/15/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 10/02/1997
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Nike, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Nike, Inc.
• Inventors: Darley, Jesse, Blackadar, Thomas
• Granted Patent: US 7,428,471 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 702/182
• CPC Class Codes: A43B 23/24 Ornamental buckles; Other ornaments for shoes without fastening function
• CPC Class Codes: A43B 3/0031 provided with a pocket, e.g. for keys or a card
• CPC Class Codes: A43B 3/0078 provided with logos, letters, signatures or the like decoration A43B23/24 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A43B 3/34 with electrical or electronic arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2503/10 Athletes
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2560/0223 of calibration, e.g. protocols for calibrating sensors
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2562/0219 Inertial sensors, e.g. accelerometers, gyroscopes, tilt switches
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2562/08 Sensors provided with means for identification, e.g. barcodes or memory chips
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/0205 Simultaneously evaluating both cardiovascular conditions and different types of body conditions, e.g. heart and respiratory condition
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/02438 with portable devices, e.g. worn by the patient
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/1038 Measuring plantar pressure during gait
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/1112 Global tracking of patients, e.g. by using GPS
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/1118 Determining activity level
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/112 Gait analysis
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/486 Bio-feedback A61B5/375 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/4866 Evaluating metabolism A61B5/083 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/6807 Footwear
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/681 Wristwatch-type devices
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/6831 Straps, bands or harnesses
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/6895 Sport equipment
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/7246 : using correlation, e.g. template matching or determination of similarity
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/725 : using specific filters therefor, e.g. Kalman or adaptive filters A61B5/316 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/7278 : Artificial waveform generation or derivation, e.g. synthesising signals from measured signals A61B5/327 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/742 : using visual displays A61B5/339 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/743 : Displaying an image simultaneously with additional graphical information, e.g. symbols, charts, function plots
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/7475 : User input or interface means, e.g. keyboard, pointing device, joystick
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2024/0065 : Evaluating the fitness, e.g. fitness level or fitness index
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2220/17 : Counting, e.g. counting periodical movements, revolutions or cycles, or including further data processing to determine distances or speed
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2225/02 : Testing, calibrating or measuring of equipment
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 69/0028 : for running, jogging or speed-walking movable endless bands A63B22/02
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 22/006 : Pedometers
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 2291/02827 : Elastic parameters, strength or force
• CPC Class Codes: G01P 1/023 : for acceleration measuring devices
• CPC Class Codes: G01P 15/08 : with conversion into electric or magnetic values
• CPC Class Codes: G01P 15/0922 : of the bending or flexing mode type
• CPC Class Codes: G04G 21/025 : for measuring physiological data
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 20/30 : relating to physical therapies or activities, e.g. physiotherapy, acupressure or exercising

Abstract

One disclosed method involves identifying a grade of the surface with at least one device supported by the user while the user is in locomotion on foot on a surface, and determining a performance parameter of the user with the at least one device based upon the identified grade of the surface. Another disclosed method involves identifying a grade of a surface based upon a measured physiological parameter of a user in locomotion on foot on the surface. Another disclosed method involves identifying an average foot contact time of a user during a first outing, identifying an average pace of the user during the first outing, and determining a relationship between foot contact times of the user and corresponding paces of the user, wherein the relationship is based upon the average foot contact time and the average pace identified during the first outing, and wherein no other average foot contact times and no other average paces identified during any different outings by the user are used to define the relationship. Another disclosed method involves determining a single user-specific calibration constant that defines a relationship between foot contact times of a user and corresponding paces of the user, wherein no other user-specific calibration constants are used to define the relationship.

Claims

1. A method, comprising steps of:

(a) with at least one device supported by the user while the user is in locomotion on foot on a surface, identifying a grade of the surface; and

(b) determining a performance parameter of the user with the at least one device based upon the identified grade of the surface.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the step (b) comprises determining with the at least one device at least one of a pace and a speed of the user with respect to the surface based upon the identified grade of the surface.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the step (b) comprises determining with the at least one device a distance traveled by the user based upon the identified grade of the surface.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the step (a) comprises identifying the grade of the surface based upon a measured physiological parameter of the user.

5. The method of claim 4, wherein the measured physiological parameter of the user comprises a measured heart rate of the user.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the step (a) comprises identifying the grade based upon a measured performance parameter of the user.

7. The method of claim 6, wherein the measured performance parameter is based upon at least one measured foot contact time of the user.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein the step (a) comprises identifying the grade based upon an output of an altimeter.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein the step (a) comprises estimating a value of the grade of the surface.

10. A method, comprising a step of:

(a) identifying a grade of a surface based upon a measured physiological parameter of a user in locomotion on foot on the surface.

11. The method of claim 10, wherein the measured physiological parameter of the user comprises a measured heart rate of the user.

12. The method of claim 10, wherein the step (a) comprises estimating a value of the grade of the surface.

13. A method, comprising steps of:

(a) identifying an average foot contact time of a user during a first outing;

(b) identifying an average pace of the user during the first outing;

(c) determining a relationship between foot contact times of the user and corresponding paces of the user, wherein the relationship is based upon the average foot contact time and the average pace identified during the first outing, and wherein no other average foot contact times and no other average paces identified during any different outings by the user are used to define the relationship;

(d) determining at least one foot contact time of the user during a second outing; and

(e) calculating a pace of the user during the second outing based upon the determined at least one foot contact time and the determined relationship between foot contact times of the user and corresponding paces of the user.

14. The method of claim 13, wherein:

the step (d) comprises determining a plurality of foot contact times of the user during the second outing; and

the method further comprises a step of (f) calculating a distance traveled by the user during the second outing based upon the determined plurality of foot contact times and the determined relationship between foot contact times of the user and corresponding paces of the user.

15. The method of claim 13, wherein:

the step (a) includes steps of (a1) determining a plurality of foot contact times during the first outing, and (a2) calculating the average foot contact time of the user during the first outing based upon the plurality of determined foot contact times; and

the step (b) includes steps of (b1) determining an amount of time that elapsed during the first outing, and (b) calculating the average pace of the user during the first outing based upon the amount of time that elapsed during the outing and the distance traveled during the outing.

16. A method, comprising steps of:

(a) determining a single user-specific calibration constant that defines a relationship between foot contact times of a user and corresponding paces of the user, wherein no other user-specific calibration constants are used to define the relationship;

(b) determining at least one foot contact time of the user during an outing; and

(c) calculating a pace of the user during the outing based upon the determined at least one foot contact time and the relationship between foot contact times of the user and corresponding paces of the user that is defined by the single user-specific calibration constant.

17. The method of claim 16, wherein:

the step of (b) comprises determining a plurality of foot contact times of the user during the outing; and

the method further comprises a step of (d) calculating a distance traveled by the user during the outing based upon the determined plurality of foot contact times and the relationship between foot contact times of the user and corresponding paces of the user that is defined by the single user-specific calibration constant.